Anybody with eyes can see that Ohio State football is not in a great spot right now. Their offense specifically has been in a rut in 3 of the last 4 games they’ve played, dating back to last season. There are many theories as to who is to blame for the struggles; Ohio State fans on the great twitter dot com have suggested everything from getting rid of wide receiver coach Zach Smith, to getting rid of head coach Urban Meyer. One of the most common calls for change, however, has come at the quarterback spot. JT Barrett has 23 Ohio State school records, 10 of which are strictly passing records, but you don’t have to be a football coach to see that he’s been struggling recently in the passing game, and many are calling for his replacement. Unfortunately for the locker room, it hasn’t been just crazy fans who have called for JT’s benching, it’s branched out to former players, and even possible recruits.
The first instance of branching out by well known people around the program came in the form of former receiver Corey Smith Jr.
On my momma Dwayne Haskins suppose to been playing since he walked in @ OSU!
— Corey Smith Jr (@dreamchaser_cj5) September 10, 2017
He later went on to clarify that it was nothing about JT personally, but that DH was supposed to be playing because of his talent. Corey Smith Jr., being a former receiver at Ohio State, is absolutely free to say whatever he wants, he doesn’t go there anymore, but Buckeye fans have to see that a former receiver who played with JT just might know what he is talking about. Urban Meyer should not have even the slightest problem with Corey’s tweet, but some around the program, not Meyer, have taken an issue with some others’ comments, including two highly touted recruits.
Recruit Micah Parsons with Eddie George
In the post game press conference after the Oklahoma game, a question was raised to Meyer about a possible change at the QB position. Ohio State beat writer, Patrick Murphy, tweeted that Meyer would not consider a change at quarterback. Micah Parsons, another top recruit, tweeted back referencing Haskins as well.
I would and his name is @dh_simba7 https://t.co/MZGrGyvPt0
— BLESSEDMVP (@Micah_parsons23) September 10, 2017
Parsons is one of the top recruits in the country and is someone the Buckeyes would love to have in the future, and he seems to like Haskins, who seems to have a fast track to starting at QB next year, so that might be a potential pull for Parsons to Columbus. Parsons wasn’t the only top recruit to speak out on behalf of Haskins. Jackson Carman, the best offensive lineman in the 2018 class, also loves Haskins.
OSU game this past weekend, they need to put in my bro @dh_simba7 and let him work ‼️ pic.twitter.com/9X1Cpcfiey
— T H E J I A N T (@Jackthejiant) September 11, 2017
It seems that another recruit might have a pull to come to Columbus getting to block for Haskins himself maybe as soon as next year, that positivity changed with a tweet from former Ohio State QB Kirk Herbstreit.
Top Recruit Jackson Carman at His OSU Visit
Herbstreit tweeted that recruits everywhere need to keep quiet when it comes to potential landing spots, and when confronted by @boomer_4lyfe, who responded by saying recruits can have opinions too, Herbstreit came back strong, but controversially. He said that he was “trying to help them avoid issues on their future team, not to mention not their place.” Herbstreit, I believe, meant well for this tweet, trying to say that recruits should try not to cause stir before they even commit, but Carman came back and said “Pretty sure I wouldn’t have any problems in Dabo Swinney’s or Clay Helton’s locker room for my OPINION on OSU’s qb issues.” Carman was, of course, referring to Swinney’s Clemson squad, the same one that dominated the Buckeyes 31-0 in the Fiesta Bowl, and Helton’s USC squad, who is currently ranked higher than the Buckeyes in the rankings. These two, Parsons and Carman, are not committed yet to the Buckeyes, and one could wonder if this drama, paired with the Buckeyes recent string of horrendous performances, could steer the coveted recruits away from the program and toward another, less explosive situation. This, if any good from it, has to be a massive confidence boost for Haskins, a redshirt freshman, who is locked in a battle with Joe Burrow for the backup quarterback position. There was video circling on twitter of Haskins getting in some extra throws after practice this week. Is it possible the multitude of tweets have influenced a change? Probably not, but it probably encouraged Haskins to get some extra work to stay at the top of his game. As a Buckeyes fan I hope these two end up in Columbus next year as they could help steer the program back to the absolute dominance it gained in 2014.